Dickie Currer, Head of Partnerships and New Markets at The Startup Network, aspires to make Australia's tech and innovation ecosystem more competitive on the world stage. The DIF team had the pleasure of sitting down with Dickie before he wraps up his time with The Startup Network with last hurrah at the inaugural Future Horizons Festival. Dickie's insights remind us that the journey of entrepreneurship is as much about the adventure as it is about the destination. He shares his thoughts on Victoria's vibrant startup scene, exciting future trends and valuable advice for aspiring founders. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? I'm originally from the North of England, though moved to Australia in 2015 and have called Melbourne home for most of that time. Travel has always been my north star, so I feel that I was always destined to be an expat. This hunger for adventure, which has taken me to 64 countries thus far, has also been an ever present in my career. Spending time working as an Immigration Lawyer and British Army Officer before finally falling into Partnerships and now the Startup world! During your two years at The Startup Network, what excited you most about Victoria's startup scene? The sense that we're on the verge of something huge! We've always been a country of innovators, though our startup ecosystem is still quite nascent and quite a way behind leading nations like the US, Israel and the UK. In spite of this, this some of our Founders are already solving global problems and building internationally scalable businesses'. This is forcing the ecosystem to start building the infrastructure so that it can catch up and keep supporting this growth. It's exciting for me to think that we're breaking new ground every day and there's still so much more to do. What gives you the greatest optimism regarding startups and entrepreneurs in Victoria? The people that I meet daily! Be that the Founders that show an incredible resilience and appetite for risk or the operators supporting them which are often just as passionate. I'm particularly enthused when I meet students or other young people that are just starting to explore entrepreneurship as an option. Inspiring the next generation of Founders and supporters is so integral to keeping our Victorian ecosystem growing! For aspiring startup founders, what advice and key considerations do you suggest as they grow into their role? I would say just to take stock and acknowledge the journey that you are about to undertake. Being a Founder isn't a job, it's a lifestyle and if you're not careful one that can lead to burnout, be really challenging on your mental and physical health and impact your relationships with those you care about most. It's an incredible undertaking and you should enjoy the highs and the lows, though make sure to do it safely. And make sure to build a strong support community around you! Can you share any emerging trends or areas of innovation that you believe will shape the future of startups in Victoria? I think less about technological advancements like AI and Quantum and more about the problems that need solving in our society. Be that the impending climate crisis, food and wealth inequality, the increase in cost of living and access to affordable housing, a lack of diversity in C-suite positions. These problems need innovators and Startups to solve them and will be front of mind for the generations to come. What role do you think collaboration and networking play in the growth and success of startups, especially in a region like Victoria? For me, it's one of the most important factors in a startup's success. As the old idiom goes, "it takes a village to build a Startup". Surrounding yourself with that supportive community both inside and outside of your business is so critical. We've got an active networking scene in the Victorian ecosystem, with a friendly and inclusive cast of people running it. I'd recommend anyone interested in any role within this world, to take the leap, show up and start becoming a part of the community. What has been your experience being part of the Digital Innovation Futures program over the last few years? I've had the pleasure of organising and hosting two showcase events as part of DIF and have been an attendee at plenty of other satellite events during the festival. I've loved working with the team and the energy that is in Victoria throughout the DIF programming. Events that bring together all the stakeholders of our ecosystem are so important for inspiring entrepreneurship and building community and I'm so grateful for the role that DIF has played in this. Dickie is also a founding member of The Growth Cartel, a community-driven podcast from which explores the many facets the entrepreneurial journey; successes, failures, insights and strategies. Tune in for more pearls of wisdom from Dickie and his team. You can also follow him on LinkedIn and subscribe to his newsletter ‘Startup Vagabond’.
Demonstrating a shared commitment to innovation, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Startup Victoria have established a new partnership that connects the start up community, experts and entrepreneurs with the events industry, to explore opportunities. This bespoke partnership is a strategic alignment that will strengthen industry relationships, provide a forum for sharing experiences and expertise, and inform potential products and services to help shape the MCEC customer experience. Natalie O’Brien AM, recently appointed CEO of MCEC, said the partnership can help MCEC progress the innovation journey it has embarked on over recent years. “We have lots of ideas to explore and we want to embed creativity, innovation and an entrepreneur mindset into our business. The partnership with Startup Victoria will help us navigate the large and complex start up ecosystem and connect with people who can help us achieve our innovation goals.” Natalie O’Brien AM, MCEC Dickie Currer, Head of Partnerships at Startup Victoria, is pleased to be associated with an icon of Victoria’s business and tourism infrastructure. The first Startup Victoria event to be supported by MCEC as venue partner is the Health & Wellbeing Pitch Night. The pitch night on 28 February will showcase startups that are making the world a better place by improving health and wellbeing in innovative ways. Further pitch nights will be held throughout the year. “We look forward to connecting with MCEC’s people and community partners and tapping into the expertise and influence of its Club Melbourne ambassadors and thought leaders." Dickie Currer, Startup Victoria Living up to its brand as ‘Home of the Unconventional’ MCEC seeks opportunities to develop and deliver new products and experiences. MCEC created new opportunities to transform the business in response to the pandemic. Examples included partnering with Village Cinemas to open Australia’s first indoor drive-in; teaming the venues award-winning chefs with premium Victorian food distributor Flinders + Co. to create a Home Chef Series range of delicious products; and using space as a film studio for production of a major Hollywood film. In 2021, MCEC partnered with THE LUME Melbourne, Australia’s first multi-sensory, immersive, digital art gallery which has since welcomed over 850,000 visitors. Looking forward, MCEC is preparing to host the Global Entrepreneurs Congress when it comes to Melbourne for the first time in September 2023. This event will bring together more than 2,500 delegates from 170 countries to share success stories and foster collaboration. Originally publised by MCEC on 20 February 2023MCEC and Startup Victoria partner to foster innovation and entrepreneurship